Load-controlling device.



G. Nl. RICHARDS.

LQAD CONTROLLING' DEVICE. APPucATmN FILED SEPT. 23. 19'12.

Arm: Nonms rsrsns ca. Pnomlmo., wAsmNaraN. n. c.

Ere..

GEORGE M. RICHARDS, for ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.y

LoADLCoNrRoLLING DEVICE.

p Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 1S', 1916,

Application mea-september 23, 1912. seriai No. 721,730.`

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, vGEORGE M. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie-and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Load-Controlling Devices, of which the following'is a specification. y 1

This invention relates to load controlling devices for use in connection with fluid compressors or pumps, whereby the machine can be started without load and then automatically loadedafter thesame reachesthe desired speed, and whereby thecompressor can be unloaded at any predetermined pressure of the pumped fluid. e

The controlling device is primarily `intended for use on compressors which are driven by electric motors or other motors having small starting torque,-in which case it is desirable to start the machine without load, but the device is also adapted for use with gas engine driven and other types of compressors. v

The objects of the invention are to provide an eilicient and reliable load controlling device, of novel construction, which will automatically load the machine after the desired speed has been attained, and unload the machine when the pressure of the pumped fiuid reaches the desired maximum, and which can be readily adjusted to operate under various different conditions; also to simplify the construction of devices of this kind and to render the same more sensitive to changes in the pressures of the pumped Huid; also to provide means for locking the parts of the device in any desired position to prevent the operation thereof; also to pro# vide the device with a check valve of improv-ed construction in which theV noise usually caused by the operation of valves of this kind is eliminated; also to improve the construction of devices of this kind in the respects hereinafter specified.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure lA is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a load controlling device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof on line 2-2, Fig. l. Y,

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

The load controller forming the subject of this invention is especially suited for use on air compressors, and the word air will be hereinafter used to designate the pumped fluid, but `it is notv intended thereby to limit the invention to air compressors.

A represents `the casing of the load controlling device Awhich may be of any suitable construction and which has an inlet opening a through which the air from the compresso-r f enters the casing, and an outlet opening a through which the air passes to the receiver or discharge pipes' of the system. The casing is provided between itsair inlet and outlet openings with a suitable escape or relief opening a2 leading to the atmosphere. In the construction shown, this opening is pro-` vided in a lateral extension a3 of the casing A. The outlet opening a is preferably controlled by a suitable check valve B, hereinafter more fully described, which serves to retain the pressure in the receiver or discharge pipes of thesystem. i

f The escape of air from the casing A is controlled by an unloading valve C which is located in the casing and is provided with a beveled face c adapted to coperate with a seat o surrounding the inner endyof the escape extension 1.3. This valve may be of any suitable construction, being preferably provided with guide ribs c2 entering the escape extension for guiding the movements of the valve, and with a' hollow stem c3 which extends across the casing A with its eXtremityj arranged to slide in a pocket 0* in the casing to 'further guide the movements of the valve. The guide pocket 0i is preferablyy formed in a screw cap 05 which closes the opening through which the unloading valve is introduc'edlinto the casing. The valve is yieldingly held open or unseated by a suitable spring c(s which is preferably located withinlthe hollow stem 03. When the compressor is started, theparts are .in the position shown in Fig. 1. and the air from the compressor escapesffrom the casing A past the unloading valve C to the atmosphere, so that the compressor is unloaded. As the speed of the compressor increases, the volume of air discharged through the valve also increases and produces a pressure within the casing. When this pressure becomes great enoughto overcome the spring 'c6 the valve will be closedand the air is then dis charged from the casing through the outlet opening a to the receiver or digcharge pipes of the. system, thereby loading the machine.

n ordery to enable the compressor to be loaded when the compressor attains any desired speed, means are provided for controlling the open position of the unloading valve C, so as to enlarge or restrict the valve opening. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose, such for example, as a stop screw D passing` through a threaded hole in the screw cap c5 and. provided at its inner end with a disk or washerd which engages the hollow stem c3 of the unloading valve. The valve spring c is secured in any suitable way to the inner end of the stop screw and yieldingly draws the valve against the disk d. Thus by adjusting the stop screw, the opening movement of the valve can be regulated as desired. A lock nut d is preferably provided for securing the stop screw in its adjusted position.

In setting the load' contro-lling device to load the machine at a certain speed, the machine is started, and when the desired speed is attained, the stop screw D is turned to throttle the valve C until the Valve is closed by the pressure within the casing. The stop screw is then locked in this position by means of the lock nut cl.' The compressor will then always be loaded at the same speed when starting, unless the position of the stop screw is changed. The unloading device is also provided with means actuated by the air pressure in the receiver or discharge pipes to unseat the valve for unloading the compressor when the air in the receiver or discharge pipes of the system attains a certain pressure. In the construction shown for this purpose, a piston F and a cylinder F are provided, the cylinder being secured to the escape extension of the casing A. The piston F is normally held in its outer position, shown in Fig. l, by a spring f and has a rod or extension f which enters a tubular guide f2 of the escape extension of the casing A and is adapted to engage a rod or extension f3 of the unloading valve C. Air under pressure from the receiver or pipe system is admitted to the outer end of the cylinder to move the piston against the action of the spring f to unseat the unloading valve C.

The admission of air to the cylinder F for actuating the piston F is regulated by a controlling device G, which is secured to the cylinder Ff, for example, by a screw threaded connection g having a passage g through which the air enters the cylinder F. The controlling device comprises a cylinder h, in the opposite ends of which are arranged movable pistons H and I. Air from the receiver is admitted to the casing between the pist-ons H and I through an inlet pipe it', being preferably rst passed through a suitable filter h2. The pressure of the air in the cylinder 7L tends to move the pistons outwardly or away from each other and in order to equalize the pressure acting on the two sides of the piston H, a small hole or opening It? is preferably provided in the piston H to permit the air from below the piston to enter the casing above the piston. Any other means may, however, be used to admit the pressure to the cylinder on the two sides of the piston H. Vhen the pressure is thus equalized, the piston H is moved to its inner or lower position against the inlet pipe it by a suitable spring h4 arranged between the upper end of the casing and the piston. The piston H is adapted to connect the cylinder Fl either with' the compressed air from the receiver or with the atmosphere, for which purpose the piston shown is provided with an annular groove which, when the piston is in its lower position, connects the inlet passage g of the cylinder F with holes or openings h5, Fig. 2, leading to the atmosphere. lVhen the piston is in its upper position the lower end thereof clears the passage g and permits the air from the casing h to enter into the c vlinder F. i

The piston I extends out of the end of the cylinder t and its outward movement by the pressure of the air is opposed by an adjustable resistance device, consisting, for instance, of springs z' z' connected at `one end thereof to arms z" on the cylinder It, and at the other end by tensioning screws 2 to the ends of a yoke 3,'bearing on the outer end of the piston I. By 'adjusting the screws 2, the tension of the springs can be varied to cause the piston I to be moved by the air at one or another desired pressure. Any other suitable means for resisting the movement of the piston I may be employed. K represents a relief valve which controls a hole /c in the upper end of the cylinder 7L through which the pressure above the piston H can be relieved to permit the upward movement of the piston by opening the relief valve K. YThe relief valve shown is provided with a stem /c which projects through the relief hole and is grooved, or otherwise shaped, to allow the escape of air through the hole when the valve is unseated. This valve is operated by the lower piston I through suitable connections, such, for instance, as rods 702 connecting lateral arms 7c3 on the outer end of the piston I with a yoke 7a4 attached to the relief valve II. rI`he outer end of the stem of the relief valve, which is screw threaded, passes loosely through a hole in the yoke 704 and is provided above and below the yoke with adjustable nuts 0" le, adapted to be engaged by a yoke for opening and closing the valve. k7 is a lock nut for the adjustable nut 706. A lost motion connection is thus provided between the piston I and the relief valve,

which allows the piston to be moved more l.

or less, depending upon the adjustment of the nuts 7x25 7:6, before operating the relief valve. Any other suitable lost motion or adjustable connection between the piston I and the relief valve could be used. When they relief valve is seated, as shownin the drawings, the air cannot escape from the upper end of the cylinder L, and the pressure then being equal on opposite sides of the piston H, the latter will be held in the lower position shown, by its spring and will connect the cylinder F with the Aatmosphere. The groove in the stem 7c of the relief valve' is of such size that when the relief valve K is unseated, owing to an increase of pressure acting on the piston I, air will escape from the upper end of the controller cylinder faster than it can enter through the opening ha in the piston H. The pressure acting on the upper face of the piston H will consequently be diminished and the pressure acting on the lower face of the piston will move the piston against the action of the spring h to its upper position, thereby permitting air under pressure to enter the cylinder F and move the piston F to unseat the unloading valve C. When the relief valve K is again seated, owing to the reduction of pressure acting on the pistonl, the escape of air from the upper part of the casing is prevented and the pressure on opposite sides of the piston H being cqualizcd, by the air admitted through the hole h3, the spring h4 will return the piston H to its lower position.

Means are preferably provided for locking the unloading valve C in any desired position to prevent the automatic operation of the unloader. The device shown for this purpose consists of a bolt L having an eye or loop Z surrounding the rod f3 vof the unloading valve. The threaded end of this bolt projects through a hole in the escape extension of' the casing A and is provided with a thumb nut l. When the nut is tightened the bolt will bind the rod f3 of the valve against its tubular guide f2, thus locking it against movement. By these means the unloader valve C can be locked in any desired position.

ln order to cause the check valve B to operate without the noise usually attending the action of check valves, it is preferably constructed as follows:-The valve B has a stem m which extends through a bushing m secured in a cylindrical hole m2 in a check valve casing M, which is suitably secured to the casing A of the load controlling device. The bushing m forms a guide or bearing for the valve stem m and also divides the hole m2 into two cylinders m3 and m4. The valve stem is provided near its end with a disk m5 which is adapted to enter the cylindcr m3 when the valve is-near its seat and forms therewith a dash pot to prevent the valve from pounding against its scat. The valve stem has an enlarged part me, adjacent to the valve, which is adapted to enter the cylinder m4 when the valve is near the upper end of its movement, and which forms with this cylinder a dash pot which resists the upward movement of the valve after the disk m5 has been raised out of the cylinder m3, the air cushion in the cylinder m4 forming a better check against the upward movement-.of the valve than the partial vacuum formed in the vcylinder m3. By means of this construction any sudden movements of the valve, as well as the pounding of the valve, either against its seat or against the check valve casing, are prevented.

The load controlling device described is opening which is yieldingly held in its openv position when the compressor is starting to permit the air from the compressor to discharge to the atmosphere, and which is adapted to be closed automatically by the direct Vpressure thereon of the pumped fluid within the casing to vcause the fluid topass to said receiver', and means for unseating said valve when the fiuid in the receiver reaches a certain predetermined pressure, substantially as set forth.

2. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings which connect, respectively, with the compressor and a receiver for the compressed fluid and an escape opening between said inlet and outlet openings, a valve controlling said escape opening which is yieldingly held in its open position when the compressor is starting to permit the air from the compressor to discharge yto the atmosphere, and which is adaptedl to be closed automatically by the direct pressure thereon of the pumped fluid within the casing to cause the fluid to pass to said. receiver, and means controlled by the pressure of the pumped fluid for unseating said valve when the fluid in the receiver reaches a certain predetermined pressure, substantially as set forth.

3. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings which connect respectively, with the' compresso-r and a receiver for the compressed fluid and an escape opening between said inlet and outlet openings, a valve controlling said escape opening which is yieldingly held in its open position when the compressor is starting to permit the air from the compressor to discharge to the atmosphere, and which is adapted to be closed automatically by the direct pressure thereon of the pumped fluid within the casing to cause the fluid to pass toV said receiver, a piston operatively connected with said valve, a cylinder in which said piston works, and a controlling device operated vby the pressure in said receiver for admitting compressed fluid to said cylinder for causing said piston to unseat said valve, substantially as set forth.

4. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings and an escape opening between said inlet and outlet openings, a valve controlling said escape opening which is yieldingly held in its open position and is adapted to be closed by the pressure thereon of the fluid in the casing, a piston located in a cylinder for operating said valve and which is adapted to be. actuated by the compressed fiuid,and connections between said pist-on and said valve for unseating the valve by the movement of the piston in one direction, substantially as set forth.

5. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings and an escape opening between said inlet and outlet openings, a valve controlling said escape opening and having a hollow stem which eX- tends across said casing, means on one side of said casing for guiding said valve, means on the opposite side. of said casing for guiding said hollow stem, and a spring arranged in said hollow stem for yieldingly holding the valve in its open position, said valve being adapted to be closed by the direct pressure thereon of the fiuid in the casing, substantially as set forth.

6. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening which is connected with a receiver for the compressed fluid, and an escape opening between said inlet and outlet openings, a valve controlling said escape opening and having a hollow stem, a spring arranged in said hollow stem for yieldingly holding the valve in its open position, said valve being closed by the pressure within said casing, an escape extension on said casing adjacent to said escape opening, a cylinder in said eX- tension, and a piston in said cylinder which is actuated by the compressed fluid in the receiver when the pressure in the receiver reaches a certain predetermined value for opening said valve, substantially as set forth.

7. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings and an escape opening between said inlet and outlet openings, a valve controlling said escape opening and having a hollow stem which extends across said casing, means on one side of said casing for guiding said valve, means on the opposite side of said casing for guiding said hollow stem, a spring arranged in said hollow stem for yieldingly holding the valve in its open position, said valve being adapted to be closed by thedirect pressure thereon of the fluid in the casing, and means for adjusting the 4tension of said spring when the valve is in its closed position, whereby the compressor is loaded at different speeds, substantially as set forth.

8. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings which connect, respectively, with the compressor and a receiver for the compressect fluid and an escape opening between said inlet and outlet openings, a valve controlling said escape opening which is yieldingly held in its open position when the compressor is starting to permit the air from the compressor to discharge` to the atmosphere, and which is adapted to be closed by the pressure ofthe pumped fluid within the casing to cause the fluid to pass to said receiver, said valve having a hollow stem which extends across said casing, means on the casing for guiding the end of said stem, a spring arranged in said hollow stem for opening said valve, and means on said casing which are adjustable toward and from said valve and with which the valve engages when in its open position fo-r limiting the opening movement of the valve relatively to the escape opening, where by the compressor can be loaded at different desired speeds, substantially as set forth.

9. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings which connect respectively with the compressor and a receiver for the co-mpressed fluid and an escape opening between said inlet and outlet openings, a valve controlling said escape opening which is yieldingly held in its open position when the compressor is starting to permit the air from the compressor to discharge to the atmosphere and which is adapted to be closed by the pressure of the pumped fluid within the casing to cause the fluid to pass to said receiver, and a screw extending through said casing and adapted to engage the valve when the same is in its open position, said screw being adjustable relatively to said valve to control the extent to which the valve is opened, whereby the compressor is loaded at different speeds, substantially as set forth.

l0. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings which connect, respectively, with the compresso-r and a receiver for the compressed fluid and an escape opening between said inlet and out` let openings, an esoapeopening in said casing, a valve controlling said escape opening and having a stern7 and a bolt secured in the casing which is adapted to engage said valve stern to frictionally hold the saine in any position, substantially as set forth.

1l. In a load controlling device for fluid compressors, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet openings which conneet respectively with the compressor and a receiver for the compressed fluid and an 'escape opening between said lnlet and outlet openings, an escape opening in said casing, a valve controlling said escape opening'and having a stem, and a bolt secured in the casing and having a part which sur# rounds said valve stein and which is adapted to be drawn into frictional engagement with said valve stem to lock the Valve against movement at Aany position of the valve, substantially as set forth.

lVitness my hand this 20th day of September, 1912.

GEORGE M. RICHARDS.

' Witnesses:

E. G. JOHNSON, C. A; MAsTEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

